... DUBAI United Arab Emirates June 9 /- ...- 'Everyone Living in Dubai Will Have Access to a Good AffordableHea...- DHA responsible for strategy and policy health regulation ... health funding and public health ...

- 'Everyone Living in Dubai Will Have Access to a Good, Affordable
Health Service That Meets Their Basic Medical Needs'

- DHA responsible for strategy and policy, health regulation,

health funding and public health

- New Government owned public corporation to take over

responsibility for health service delivery

- DHA to create one Government regulatory body responsible for all

health service professionals and services in Dubai

- DHA's new health funding structure unveiled

- Unique system designed for Dubai based on regional and

international benchmarking

- Employer contribution will start at between AED500 and AED800 per

person a year

Following twelve months of extensive consultation and public
engagement, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has today unveiled the future
direction of the Government's health strategy at a presentation to over 500
people from a range of different stakeholder groups and organisations,
including Government departments, diplomatic representatives, healthcare
experts and professionals from the public and private sectors, employers,
insurers and members of the public.

Building on the vision of His Highness Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai contained
within the Dubai Strategic Plan, health is at the forefront of the
Government's agenda to promote the continued and sustainable growth of
Dubai on both the regional as well as the international stage.

His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, the Director General of the
Dubai Health Authority, said: 'A dynamic and well regulated health sector
is important to our future growth and prosperity. A happy and prosperous
society is a healthy and productive one. Health affects us all, whoever we
may be, as we will all be a patient at some point in our lives. What we
hope is that there is a high quality, accessible and affordable healthcare
system in place to look after us when we need it. So health is one of the
few issues which unite us all.'

The Government has recognised that as Dubai continues to grow, it must
continue to develop a health service driven by international best practice.
In addition, Dubai can only be truly healthy if all parts of its community
work together and have access to basic health care. So, as Dubai looks to
the future, it is important that it addresses the basic health needs of
everyone living and working here, to continue to build a healthy,
sustainable and successful community.

Hosting the event, the Director General said: 'Over the last 30 years,
the Department of Health and Medical Services (or DoHMS) and the private
healthcare facilities have done an excellent job delivering health services
for Dubai. However, during this period, Dubai's population has changed and
grown from 300,000 to nearly 1.5 million and continues to expand. Alongside
this growth, the rapidly rising cost of healthcare facilities, services and
medicines are all driving the demand for more healthcare expenditure.'

'One year ago today the Dubai Health Authority was created with a clear
remit to drive standards and improve the health of everyone living and
working here in Dubai. Since then we have been working hard to build and
develop a healthcare system for the future. Our aspiration is to become one
of the world's top health providers and to build Dubai's reputation as a
regional leader in healthcare provision.'

He added: 'The DHA will be responsible for delivering a health strategy
that protects and improves the quality of care for everyone in Dubai. We
will promote international accreditation of all healthcare services and
promote partnership between the public and private sector, attracting
international experience and expertise. We will also deliver effective
regulation across the whole of Dubai's health sector, increasing
transparency and accountability within the system. We will drive efficiency
by funding the most effective healthcare for those who need it, improving
accessibility to the system and sustainability for the future. And the DHA
will help bring the best training and education opportunities for those
working within the healthcare sector.'

At the presentation the Director General made a number of very specific
announcements about parts of the health programme. However the Government
appreciates that delivering a world class healthcare system will take time.
Through its consultation programme, the DHA has understood the important
need to introduce the programme in phases. Consequently the DHA transition
programme will introduced over the next four years, completing in 2012 with
the DHA health funding process fully implemented by 2015.

At the presentation, the Director General announced the following:

Health service delivery:

The DHA will be separated from all health service delivery. Within the
new structure, the DHA will not be directly responsible for providing
health services in Dubai. In future, Government health services will be
delivered by a Government owned public corporation, separate from the DHA,
creating a number of very important benefits.

The separation from Government health services will allow the DHA to be
completely independent in managing the wider health sector. It will also
remove a potential conflict of interest that exists when Government
regulates and also delivers health services.

Government owned hospitals and primary health care facilities will have
greater freedom, more flexibility and accountability. In line with DHA
policy and strategy, they will be responsible for their own service
planning and delivery. This will allow them to be run more efficiently and
effectively, increasing capacity and creating equal opportunities between
the public and private sectors.

The Director General said: 'For patients, this will result in greater
choice, more accountability, better service, and in the longer term, higher
quality healthcare'

Health regulation:

On health regulation, the Director General said: 'Regulation will be
one of the main tools available to the DHA to allow it to manage the health
care sector. At the moment the regulation of the healthcare sector in Dubai
is fragmented into different facilities subject to different legislation
and different processes. This has led to inconsistent standards and
duplication as well as a high regulatory burden on health service
providers.'

Working alongside key strategic partners such as the Federal Ministry
of Health and the free zones, the DHA's regulation team will help
streamline the current process. This will help build public confidence in
the quality of all of Dubai's health services and deliver a better
organised and more efficient regulatory system for both patients and health
professionals.

The Director General went on to state that: 'The DHA's health
regulation team will create a single Government body responsible for health
service professionals and services. It will bring together current
regulatory activities into one coordinated system, responsive to the needs
of the public and health providers. It will ensure full implementation of
the DHA's policy and standards across the whole healthcare sector,
including the free zones. The public and private sectors will be treated
exactly the same. The team will manage complaints and malpractice
investigations and regulate public health standards.'

Health funding:

On the new health funding system the Director General said; 'Our
objective for the funding system is to deliver a high quality, affordable
and accessible health service that will provide a good basic standard of
healthcare in Dubai which is similar to that provided by leading developed
countries. It will be compulsory for everyone and will be largely employer
or sponsor funded.'

Access to basic healthcare for every resident of Dubai - national and
non-national alike - is an important part of the system.

Under the new system UAE Nationals will continue to receive existing
levels of cover and service. There will be no distinction between public or
private health service providers and for the first time, access to a good,
affordable health service will be extended to everyone living in Dubai to
meet their basic medical needs.

The new funding system has been designed for the future needs of Dubai
and is a unique system drawing upon a local, regional and international
benchmarking programme. The new system will be compulsory for everyone.
Where there is no employer, the individual resident of Dubai will be
responsible for the payment for dependents and those they sponsor. This
payment is called a Health Benefits Contribution (or HBC).

The exact figure for the HBC is still being finalised and a further
announcement on this will be made later this year. However it is estimated
that the HBC will be between AED500 and AED800 per person and will be
reviewed at least annually.

Everybody will be issued with a health card and, subject to
availability, will be able to register with a public or private outpatient
clinic of their choice to access care. The new health funding system will
be formally launched on 01 January 2009, when patients will start
registering with an out-patient clinic.

In his concluding comments, the Director General said: 'Further
announcements on the progress of the DHA programme will be made as we
continue the implementation and engagement process. However as we build and
develop a new health system, healthcare provision must always be balanced
with a need to help the public to lead healthier and safer lifestyles
Consequently the DHA will have a far more proactive approach to working
across Government to ensure that Dubai is a healthier place to live and
work.'

Notes to Editors

- Dubai Health Authority created by Law issued by the Ruler of Dubai in

June 2007.

- The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has been empowered to set policy and

strategy for health, and to assure the application of that health

policy and strategy. The DHA leads an integrated approach across the

spectrum of health, anticipating Dubai's future needs and being

responsive to users. It will stimulate growth and innovation in the

health market, ensuring value for money and quality of services through

effective regulation.

- The DHA implementation will be undertaken in phases and will take

around four years to complete (2012). In the meantime the Department of

Health and Medical Services (DoHMS) continues to provide day-to-day

Medical services.

- His Excellency Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid has been appointed Director

General of the emergent DHA. He is the only official spokesperson who

can comment on behalf of the DHA.

- The new Dubai Health Authority (DHA) structure will ensure that health

services are better positioned to meet the demand for better healthcare

services in the future. The DHA will work to:

- Provide a Health Strategy for Dubai that will meet the needs of the

predicted growth and change in population

- Ensure Public Health is protected and quality of life improved

- Ensure partnership between public and private health service providers,

"The health vision for Dubai is delivered by 2012 by the competent,
confident and sustainable set of suppliers, regulators and service
providers that make up the health system"

The Mission of the DHA

"The DHA is the Authority empowered to set policy and strategy for
health and to assure application of policy and strategy. It leads an
integrated approach across the spectrum of health, anticipating future
needs and being responsive to users. It will stimulate growth and
innovation in the health market, ensuring value for money and quality of
services through effective regulation"
On behalf of the DHA, for further details please contact

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